QUAD

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) is an informal strategic dialogue maritime democracies (Japan,
India, Australia and US), set up with an objective to ensure and sustain an open and influential free
Indio-Pacific region. As per the US-China Economic and Security review commission of 2020, Chinas
power has been steadily growing along the rims of the Indian Ocean, through its economic and military
activities in countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Maldives. To counter balance
this economic and military clout of China in the Indo-Pacific region, QUAD was set up. QUAD was
actually an ambitious geostrategic vision initiated in the year 2007 between four nations (India,
Australia, Japan and US), with a goal to secure a rule based global order, liberal trading system and
freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region, but failed to take off due to hesitations amongst the
four nations and also due to objections/ diplomatic protests by China, which in turn led to Australia
backing out. However this vision of QUAD was revived in the year 2012 when Shinzo Abe (then Japanese
Prime Minister) put forth the idea of Asia’s “Democratic Security Diamond”, which involved the above
four nations joining together in order to safeguard the sea routes in the Indo-Pacific region from any
kind of influence (especially China) and advance security and prosperity in such region. Hence QUAD is
viewed as a counterbalance to Chinas economic and military clout in the Indo-Pacific region.

To further it’s cause, QUAD has conducted numerous ministerial level meeting and also military
exercises (Malabar exercise) in the Indo-Pacific region.

Apart from the above military exercises, QUAD has also come together to help during the Covid 19
pandemic, where the member nations have agreed to pool in their financial resources, logistical
strengths and manufacturing capabilities in order to ensure equitable access to vaccines and also to help
finance India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative.

China views QUAD as a grouping/ mini-NATO initiated to create an exclusive bloc targeting China and
hampering with the peace, stability and property of the region. However, the four member nations
views QUAD differently. By clubbing the views of the four member nations on QUAD is can be stated
that QUAD is a grouping of like-minded democracies that promotes cooperation on economic,
technological, climate and security related issues and is an an extension of the ancient Indian philosophy
– Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

QUAD is of great significance to India as it helps counter Chinas expansionist policies. With the help of
QUAD member, India will be able to conduct strategic explorations in the Indo-Pacific region.